A long-time resident of Detroit, Cullen McKinney graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1993 and went on to become a founding member and senior attorney at Tanoury, Nauts, McKinney & Garbarino, PLLC. In addition to his extensive work as a trial lawyer, Cullen McKinney remains closely involved with medical professionals, serving as a legal lecturer and trial counsel for the Detroit Medical Center.

Medical malpractice payouts have been gradually increasing over the past couple of years, approaching $4 billion by the end of 2014. A past study from Harvard University researchers showed that 99 percent of physicians will have experienced a malpractice claim by the age of 65; despite this fact, however, about 3 out of every 4 physicians are taken by surprise when a medical malpractice claim is filed. Below is a brief look at the two most common reasons for the filing of medical malpractice claims.

Delayed/Missed DiagnosesIn a 2013 report published in HealthDay, researchers analyzed dozens of medical malpractice claims filed over a two-year period. They found that 26 to 63 percent of the suits were related to delayed or missed diagnoses. Among the most common alleged missed diagnoses in adults were cancer, heart attack, appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, and broken bones. In claims involving children, the most common conditions were cancer and meningitis.

Drug ErrorsAccording to the same report, the second most common cause for the malpractice suits examined was medication error, accounting for 5.6 to 20 percent of claims. The claims generally cited prescription-related mistakes or adverse drug reactions, and involved drugs ranging from steroids and antipsychotics to antidepressants and antibiotics.